4 answers
CareerVillage Office Hours
Student
Palo Alto, California
526
Questions
Asked
562 views
How do I become a mental health social worker?
I am a college freshman
Note: this question was asked anonymously by a real learner
Login to comment
4 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
2450
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Student !
I think that you will enjoy the exciting path to becoming Clinical Social Worker.
To become a Social Worker you will need a Masters Degree in Social Work. You then get certified and licensed by your State if you live in the U.S. This career has a straight forward path that requires a profound study in psychology and human behavior, theories, policies and techniques. Some do go for a Doctorate in Social Work, however, you will definitely be qualified to do clinical therapy with clients with your Masters Degree, Certification and Licensure.
When you graduate High School enroll in a college that offers a Major in Social Work or Psychology. Your undergraduate experience will familiarize you with the various theories behind and techniques for doing therapy with people. There's a lot to learn but you will do it and even may do volunteer work, projects and an Internship. Once you have this foundation, you are prepared to continue for your Masters Degree.
During your Masters Program, you will take more courses in subjects having to do with human behavior. Some of these are required and some you will choose yourself. You will also do a sort of internship which is called field work where you work in the professional realm of clinical social work.
There are some things that you can do while you are still in high school. If your high school offers classes in psychology, health science and sociology, these classes would be very helpful before you begin college. Sharpen your written, verbal and presentational skills, too. You will be doing a lot of writing in college and lots more as a Clinical Social Worker, writing reports and progress notes that will need to be very detailed. As a clinical social worker, you will attend meetings one on one or with groups and some Social Workers even facilitate trainings.
Another thing that you can do while being a high school student is Volunteer Work, Search online for a list of social service agencies in the area you live and visit as many as you can to offer being a volunteer. Although you may not be able to work directly with the clients, it will be great for meeting professionals as well as getting an idea of how these offices are run. You'll pick up a lot of information that will help you in college.
I do not recommend Shadowing for a couple of reasons. Shadowing is for people who want to get a look at a career because they're not sure if they want to go into it, but you seem sure that you want a Social Work career. Shadowing consists of watching someone work and for clinical therapy which is private and confidential, it would introduce a barrier for the client. The therapist would have to ask every client that day to sign a HIIPA Form to give you permission to sit in on their session. That also is extra work for the therapist. Clients need consistency and privacy. There is something you can do if you want to get a glimpse or hear people speak about their career. There are videos on You Tube that you can watch to hear what people say about this career. I have left links to five videos below to get you started but I'm sure you can do a search and find more.
I hope this helps and encourage you to ask more questions here at Career Village !
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER SHORT VIDEO https://youtu.be/HHXi46-LNAo?si=GZwoVUjED4Ezb52c
BEING A CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER https://youtu.be/lMjyrM9_iMM?si=8l1svdYqNgxApJo0
A CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER DISCUSSES WHAT HER CAREER IS LIKE https://youtu.be/XjY8lvGIoRg?si=xKfumiI8oIG7OU3S
THIS IS WHAT A SESSION WITH A PATIENT IS/CAN BE LIKE https://youtu.be/7LD8iC4NqXM?si=PfGcO9a7HdGQphx1
ANOTHER SAMPLE OF A THERAPIST WORKING WITH A PATIENT https://youtu.be/XH2tF8oB3cw?si=aHN2ZD2G8pBpIjcs
I think that you will enjoy the exciting path to becoming Clinical Social Worker.
To become a Social Worker you will need a Masters Degree in Social Work. You then get certified and licensed by your State if you live in the U.S. This career has a straight forward path that requires a profound study in psychology and human behavior, theories, policies and techniques. Some do go for a Doctorate in Social Work, however, you will definitely be qualified to do clinical therapy with clients with your Masters Degree, Certification and Licensure.
When you graduate High School enroll in a college that offers a Major in Social Work or Psychology. Your undergraduate experience will familiarize you with the various theories behind and techniques for doing therapy with people. There's a lot to learn but you will do it and even may do volunteer work, projects and an Internship. Once you have this foundation, you are prepared to continue for your Masters Degree.
During your Masters Program, you will take more courses in subjects having to do with human behavior. Some of these are required and some you will choose yourself. You will also do a sort of internship which is called field work where you work in the professional realm of clinical social work.
There are some things that you can do while you are still in high school. If your high school offers classes in psychology, health science and sociology, these classes would be very helpful before you begin college. Sharpen your written, verbal and presentational skills, too. You will be doing a lot of writing in college and lots more as a Clinical Social Worker, writing reports and progress notes that will need to be very detailed. As a clinical social worker, you will attend meetings one on one or with groups and some Social Workers even facilitate trainings.
Another thing that you can do while being a high school student is Volunteer Work, Search online for a list of social service agencies in the area you live and visit as many as you can to offer being a volunteer. Although you may not be able to work directly with the clients, it will be great for meeting professionals as well as getting an idea of how these offices are run. You'll pick up a lot of information that will help you in college.
I do not recommend Shadowing for a couple of reasons. Shadowing is for people who want to get a look at a career because they're not sure if they want to go into it, but you seem sure that you want a Social Work career. Shadowing consists of watching someone work and for clinical therapy which is private and confidential, it would introduce a barrier for the client. The therapist would have to ask every client that day to sign a HIIPA Form to give you permission to sit in on their session. That also is extra work for the therapist. Clients need consistency and privacy. There is something you can do if you want to get a glimpse or hear people speak about their career. There are videos on You Tube that you can watch to hear what people say about this career. I have left links to five videos below to get you started but I'm sure you can do a search and find more.
I hope this helps and encourage you to ask more questions here at Career Village !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Jess A
6
Answers
Washington, Washington
Updated
Jess’s Answer
Hi!
I can see that you've definitely taken the first step to become a mental health social worker by enrolling in college, great work! I think what I would do next is meet with a college counselor/advisor in order to make sure I follow requirements for my major. I'm not entirely sure if social work is a field that requires graduate education as well, or a clinical program that is completed after your bachelor's degree. I think a counselor could provide some more insight here. Other than staying on track academically, I would try to gain hands-on practice whenever I get the chance to, whether it be shadowing, interning, or working. This way you can learn more about the field of social work, gain skills, and identify what you like and don't like.
Hope this helps!
Jess
I can see that you've definitely taken the first step to become a mental health social worker by enrolling in college, great work! I think what I would do next is meet with a college counselor/advisor in order to make sure I follow requirements for my major. I'm not entirely sure if social work is a field that requires graduate education as well, or a clinical program that is completed after your bachelor's degree. I think a counselor could provide some more insight here. Other than staying on track academically, I would try to gain hands-on practice whenever I get the chance to, whether it be shadowing, interning, or working. This way you can learn more about the field of social work, gain skills, and identify what you like and don't like.
Hope this helps!
Jess
Michael Lacroix
Medical Director
8
Answers
Sarasota, Florida
Updated
Michael’s Answer
If you want to be a mental health social worker, it's a good idea to start with a bachelor's degree in Psychology. After that, you need to complete a Master's in Social Work, focusing on clinical work. Once you finish your Master's, you'll need to get licensed in your state or province. This usually means working under supervision with a temporary license and passing an exam. After that, you can work on your own. It might take some time, but it leads to a really rewarding career.
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
161
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Hello Student! Social work requires a graduate degree in social work; this will get you an MSW upon graduation and once fully licensed, an LICSW credential. Not every undergraduate degree offers social work as a course of study; this is absolutely not a problem. People enter into social work with a huge variety of backgrounds- from religious studies, philosophy, psychology, art, gender studies, and more. Social work programs are social justice oriented so if you are interested in making a difference in people's lives and working to minimize and eliminate unjust policies and systems of care- you are on the right path. Social workers may work in a variety of settings, from political office, alongside public defense attorneys, public schools, homeless shelters, hospitals, and private practice. As you make your way through graduate school you will have opportunities for real-life experience (via internship). In preparation you can get work or volunteer experience with a nonprofit doing work you find inspiring and useful. If you have an undergraduate degree you can apply for entry level social service positions as a case manager or program manager. Learn whether you are more of a team player or leader, prefer children or adults, prefer organizational roles vs person-centered care. The more information you have about yourself- your likes and dislikes, your skills and strengths will guide you in defining your social work career. There are many ways you can use this degree; it is a ticket that will open the door to many opportunities!
Hey, thanks for laying that out so clearly! It’s super encouraging to hear how flexible the path to social work can be. I love how the field values different backgrounds—it makes it feel more accessible, especially for folks coming in with unique life experiences or degrees that aren’t traditionally “social work.” That part about internships and real-life experience during grad school is really helpful too.
If anyone’s feeling unsure about where to start or just wants some support along the way, https://mentalhealthconnect.co/ is a great resource to explore. Lots of info and tools for folks heading into helping professions!
Ellijah
Yep! I work with social workers and I can tell you- one studied religion, one psychology, one was pre-law. It truly runs the gamut. The most important thing is having a passion for helping others live and function better. The systems in place tend to work against those most marginalized and can be really tricky to navigate. Your role will be to make this navigation easier to understand, to get people connected to necessary services, and to advocate on their behalf. You also have the option to work as a therapist, probably the most interpersonal role. Within social work there is a spectrum of job opportunities; you will find what you prefer as you make your way through school. I am so excited for you!
Annah Edmonds